Sulfonic acid esters of 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methallyl dodecahydrophenanthrene compounds and processes of preparing the same



SULFONIC ACID'ESTERS OF I-(Z-HYDROXY- ETHYL) 2 METHALLYL DODECAHYDRO- PI-IENANTHRENE COMPOUNDS AND PROC- ESSES OF PREPARING THE SAME Lewis H. Sarett, Princeton, N.J., and William" F. Johns, Morton Grove, 111., assignors to Merck '8: Co.,"lnc., Rahway, NJ a corporation of New Jersey 7 No Drawing. Application January 8, 1957 Serial No. 632,974

6 Claims. (Cl. 260-3403) This invention relates to cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanthrene compounds and processes of obtaining the same. More particularly, it is concerned with a novel process for converting polyhydrophenanthrene compounds to cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanthrene compounds. 'TSpecifically, it is concerned with the preparation of dl-l lketo progesterone and dl-ll-hydroxy progesterone-and novel polyhydrophenanthrene compounds useful in preparing the same. 7

This application is a continuation-impart of our copending application Serial No. 310,134, filed September 17, 1952, now Patent 2,786,064.

The preparation of ;steroid substances by total synthesis involving the formation of the four ring system, the introduction of angular methyl groups at positions 10 and 13,, and the placing of desired functional, substituents in the ring system presents a formidable challenge. further complicated by the stereochemistry of steroidal substances. Thus, saturated steroids, with a minimum :of six asymetric centers, are capable of existing in at least sixty four stereoc'hemical modifications. However, in view of the therapeutic value and importance of steroids In addition to these difliculties, the problem issuch as cortisone and the like, and the scarcity of raw preparation of dl-ll-keto progesterone and d1-11-hydroxyprogesterone from functionally substituted dodecahydrophenanthrene compounds.

phenanthrene compounds which are useful as intermediates in the synthesis of dl-ll-keto progesterone and dl-l 1- hydroxy progesterone.

Other objects will be apparent from the detailed description of our invention hereinafter provided;

In accordance with our invention, we have foundthat' polyhydrophenanthrene compounds having in ring C a methallyl substituent at position 2 and a carboxymethyl 2,891,967 Patented June 23, 1959 compound can be shown by the partial formulas as follows: I 3Ha on,

CHgC=OHg CHfl J=CH5 -0H, 000R -0H,0H,0H

1! CH3 -'o rr,-o=orr, CH -OOCH;

D CH5CHg-OSO2R1 l 0H3CH3OS0gR wherein R represents hydrogen, an alkyl radical, an aryl radical, or an aralkyl radical, and R represents an alkyl radical, an aryl radical or an aralkyl radical.

In accordance with the foregoing flow sheet, the starting polyhydrophenanthrene compound having a methallyl substituent at C2 and a carboxymethyl or esterified Ucarboxymethyl substituent at C-1 (1) is reacted with an alkali or an alkaline earth metal or an alkali or alkaline earth metal aluminum hydride to form the corresponding primary alcohol (11). This latter compound is then treated with an organic sulfonyl halide in the presence .of a tertiary amine to form the sulfonic acid ester (III). In the neXt step of our process, the sulfonic acid ester is-oxidized to convert the Z-methallyl substituent into an acetonyl substituent and form Compound IV. Upon intimately contacting Compound IV with an alkali, ring closure is effected to form the 20-keto-steroid Compound V.

Alternatively, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the order of carrying out these reactions can be varied. Thus, the oxidation of the methallyl substituent to form the acetonyl compound can be elfected prior to ever, -we have found that the sequence of the reactions shown vpreviously is most satisfactory.

qTherocesses described above can be used to convert An additional ob ect 18 'to provlde novel dodecahydrosaturated or unsaturated polyhydrophenanthrene comling polyhydrophenanthrene compound.

or esterified carboxymethyl substituent at position 1 can be treated to efiect ring closure, thereby forming ring D of the steroid skeleton and providing a functional subring closure and the formation of a ZO-keto pregnane to the corresponding steroid compounds. In addition, the starting polyhydrophenanthrene compounds can also have other functional substituents such as keto groups or protected hydroxyl groups in rings A, B or C of the start- When this method is utilized in the preparation of a steroid having angular methyl groups at positions 10 and 13, polyhydrophenanthrenes having methyl substituents at posit'ions .2 and 4b are employed as starting materials.

Thus, pursuant to a further embodiment of our invention, the above-described procedures may be utilized inithe preparation of dl-ll-keto progesterone from 2,4b-.

wherein R represents hydrogen, and alkyl radical, an aryl radical, or an aralkyl radical, and R represents an alkyl, aryl, or aralkyl radical.

Thus, in accordance with the foregoing reaction scheme, the starting compound, 2,4b-dimethyl-l-(carboxymethyl)- 2-methallyl-7-ethylenedioxy l,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10adodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol, or the corresponding compound having an esterified carboxymethyl substituent (VI), is first reduced to form the corresponding primary canbinol (VII). This reduction is readily effected by intimately contacting compound VI with an alkali or an alkali metal aluminum hydride or the free metal in a suitable inert reaction medium (inter alia dioxane, tetrahydropyran, tetrahydrofuran, a lower alkanol and the like). For example, the reduction isconveniently carried out by reacting compound V1 with lithium aluminum hydride in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature for sufiicient time to complete the reaction. The reduction can be efiected in shorter time by heating the reactants at temperatures up to about 150 C. After the reduction with the lithium aluminum hydride is complete, the desired product is readily recovered by adding water to the reaction mixture, filtering, and evaporating the filtrate under dimin ished pressure.

As indicated above, dodecahydrophenanthrene compounds having either a l-carboxymethyl substituent'or an esterified .carboxymethyl substituent. can be reduced in accordance with our process to obtain the corresponding dodecahydrophenanthrene compound having at position 1 a 2-hydroxyethyl substituent. Lower. alkyl esters such as carbomethyoxyrnethyl, carboethoxymethyl, and carbopropoxymethyl which are readily prepared are most conveniently reduced by our process. 7 In the second step of our process, the I-(Z-hydrbxyethyl)-dodecahydrophenanthrenecompound is converted to the corresponding sulfonic acid derivative (VIII) by reaction with an alkyl, aryl, or aralkyl sulfonyl halide in the presence of a tertiary amine. In carrying out this reaction we usually prefer to form the tosyl derivative by reacting 2,4b-dirnethyl-l-(Z-hydroxyethyl)-2-methally1-7- ethylenedioxy l,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a-dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol (VII) with para toluene sulfonyl chloride in the presence of pyridine since maximum yields of the tosyl derivative are usually obtained under optimum conditions. However, other sulfonyl halides such as a methane sulfonyl halide, a benzene sulfonyl halide, and the like can be used to obtain the corresponding sulfonic acid derivatives. Similarly, other tertiary amines such as picoline, trimethyl amine, and the like are suitable reaction mediums for this condensation. After the reaction is complete, the sulfonic acid ester is readily recovered by diluting the reaction mixture with water and-extracting the product from the aqueous solution with a water immiscible solvent such'as ether.

The hydroxyl substituent at C-4 of- Compound VIII can, if desired, be oxidized at this 'point of the overall process to form the corresponding ll-keto Compound XII. We have found that this oxidation'is readily effected by reacting Compound VIII with a chromi e anhydride pyridine complex in pyridine. The oxidized product is recovered by diluting the reaction mixture With water, extracting the aqueous solution with a water immiscible solvent, such. as ether, and concentrating the solvent extract under diminished pressure. The residue so obtained can be further purified by chromatography over acid washed alumina.

In the next step of our process, the methallyl side chain at 0-2 in Compounds VIII and XII is oxidized to convert this substituent to an acetonyl radical, thereby forming Compounds IX and XIII. This oxidation of the methallyl substituent can be effected in several ways. Thus, the oxidation can be carried out by reacting Compound VIII or Compound XII with osmium tetroxide and decomposing the osmate ester to form the corresponding glycol which ontreatment with a glycol splitting agent such as periodic acid, lead tetraacetate, and the like yields the acetonyl compound. Alternatively, the preparation of the acetonyl substituted dodecahydrophenanthrene compound is effected by intimately contacting Compounds VIII and XII with ozone, and decomposing the resulting ozonide derivative with a suitable reducing agent to form Compounds IX and XIII, respectively;

Alternative1y,as indicated above, Compound VII an the corresponding 4-keto compound can be oxidized .to form the corresponding acetonyl compounds which can then be reacted with the sulfonyl halide to obtain Compounds IX and XIII, respectively.

The ring closure of Compounds IX and to form ring D of the steroid compounds is brought about by intimately contacting these compounds with a base, such as triethylamine, an alkali metal, an alkali metal alkoxide, an alkali metal hydride, or an alkaline earth metal alkoxide (inter alia, sodium, potassium sodium methoxide, potassium tertiary butoxide, sodium isopropoxide, sodi-' um hydride, and the like). The reactionis conveniently carried out in a suitable solvent medium such as a lower alkalnol, benzene,toluene, ether or "the like. Generally, We prefer to effect this ring closure 'by reacting Com pound IX or CompoundXlII witha sodium or potassium alkoxide in a lower alkanol, since these reactants are readily available and their useresults in :good yields 1 of the desired steriod compounds. Thus, the ringclosure is conveniently effected by reacting Compounds IX or XIII with sodium methoxide in methanolic solution at room temperature for sufiicient time to complete the reaction. The resulting steroidcompound is-recovered by diluting the resulting reaction mixture with water, 'extracting the desired product with. a water immiscible solvent such as chloroform, and concentrating :the result ing extract under diminished pressure. The 'produjctvso obtained can be further purified, if desired, bychromatography over acid washed alumina.

In this reaction for effecting the ring closure and the formation of the desired steroid compound, the isopre'gnene Compound'XA or XIVA is apparently the initial product formed. These isopregnenecompounds can be readily epimerized by further treatment-With alkalito form the desired normal pregnane compounda- -This changemay be visualized as'taking place as follows:

CH H

l (A) B Iso form Normal form The pregnene Compounds XIVB and XBso obtained may be hydrolyzed by reaction with acid to cleave the protecting ethylenedioxy substituent and'regenerate "the 3-keto substituent, thereby forming Compounds XV-(dP 11keto progesterone) and XI (dl-l l-hydroxy progesterone), respectively, in which the double. bond is shiftedto the 4,5 position. Alternatively, as will be"readilyjap= parent to those skilled in the art',th e other intermediate products, namely, VII-XIVB, can be similarly-hydrolyzed, for example, by reaction with hydrochloric-acid, perchloric acid, p-toluene sulfonic acid andthe like, t o cleave the ethylenedioxy group and obtain the corresponding keto compound. .Further, Compound XI (dl-ll-hydroxy progesterone) can be converted by oxidation, for example, by treatment with chromic oxide-pyridine complex, to dl-ll-keto progesterone (XV). V

The novel compounds of the present inventiodare useful in the pharmaceutical field and serve as intermediates in the preparation of adrenal cortical hormones, such as 1l-dehydrocorticosterone (Kendallis Compound A), cortisone, hydrocortisone, and" the like. Thus,

dl-ll-keto progesterone and the derivatives thereof are useful as intermediates in the preparation of cortisone, and cortisone-like compounds. Similarly, dl-llhydroxy progesterone and derivatives thereof can be utilized as intermediates in the preparation of cortisone, hydrocortisone, and other steroid compounds having cortisone-like activity.

In the foregoing reaction sequence specifically illustrating the processes of our invention, we have employed the ethylenedioxy derivatives, although other cyclic ketal derivatives can be similarly used in our process. In general, we have found the lower alkylenedioxy derivatives wherein the hydrocarbon group contains not more than seven carbon atoms such as the ethylenedioxy, trimethylenedioxy, propylenedioxy and butylenedioxy derivatives are most suitable in carrying out the processes of our invention. However, in place of using a lower alkylenedioxy substituent to block or protect the keto substituent, we can use other derivatives readily hydrolyzable to keto, such as an enol ether monothioketal, or a dithioketal derivative for this purpose.

The examples which follow are presented to illustrate methods of carrying out our process.

EXAMPLE 1 2,4b-dimethyl-I-(Z-hydroxyethyl) -2-methallyl-7-ethylenedioxy-I ,2,3,4,4a,4 b,5 ,6, 7,8,1 0,] Oa-dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-0l VI I A solution of 2.58 g. of the stereoisomeric form of 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(l-carbomethoxymethyl) 2 methallyl- 7-ethylenedioxy l,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol, melting at 1578 C., which may be prepared as described in copending application Serial No. 310,133, filed September 17, 1952, now abandoned, in 200 ml. absolute tetrahydrofuran was added to a solution of 0.80 mg. lithium aluminum hydride in 8 ml. tetrahydrofuran. The mixture was then stirred for 20 hours after which time the excess hydride was decomposed with water. The reaction mixture was then filtered, dried, and concentrated in vacuo to a crystalline residue of 2,4bdimethyl-l-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methallyl 7 ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,l0,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol. The product was recrystallized from benzene and found to exist in two crystalline modifications, one melting at ZOO-1 C., and a second at 2102ll C.

A solution of 10 mg. of VII, M.P. 210-211" C. dissolved in 1 ml. of tetrahydrofuran and 0.5 ml. of 3 M perchloric acid solution was prepared and allowed to stand for 4 hours at room temperature. At the end of the 4 hour period the reaction mixture was neutralized with aqueous potassium bicarbonate solution. The product 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2-hydroxyethyl) 2 methallyl-7- keto 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,9,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol, M.P. l53155 C. is obtained by extraction with chloroform, evaporation of the chloroform extracts, and crystallization of the resulting residue from ethyl acetate.

EXAMPLE 2 2,4b-dimethyl-J (Z-hydroxyethyl) -2-methalIyl-7-ethy lenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,]a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol (VII) A solution of 2.54 g. of 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(l-carboxymethyl)-2-methallyl-7-ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7, 8,10,10a-dodecahydrophenanthrene 4 ol, melting point 250l C., which may be prepared as described in copending application Serial No. 310,133, filed September 17, 1952, in 0.50 l. absolute tetrahydrofuran was added to a refluxing solution of 2.5 g. lithium aluminum hydride in 25 ml. tetrahydrofuran. The solution was stirred at reflux temperature for 30 minutes. At the end of this time the reaction mixture was quenched with water, and the product isolated as described in Example 1.

8 EXAMPLE 3 To an anhydrous solution of 302 mg. of 2,4b-dimethyl I-(Z-hydroxyethyl)-2-methallyl-7-ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4, 4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a-dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol (VII) in pyridine was added 168 mg. of pure p-toluene sulfonyl chloride. The mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature for about 20 hours after which time the excess tosyl chloride was decomposed with a few drops of aqueous sodium bicarbonate. The solution was then diluted with water and extracted with ether. The organic extract was concentrated to dryness in vacuo. Pure 2,4b-dimethyl l-(2-tosyloxyethyl)-2-methallyl-7-ethylenedioxyl,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a dodeeahydrophenanthrene- 4-ol (VIII), M.P. 157-8 C., was obtained from the crystalline residue by fractional crystallization from a mixture of benzene and petroleum ether.

In another experiment starting with 2.47 g. of Compound VII and 1.48 g. of p-toluene sulfonyl chloride, the reaction was successfully run with the temperature of the reaction mixture held at 0 C. for about 20 hours.

Upon hydrolysis of Compound VIII with acid the ethylenedioxy group is cleaved to obtain 2,4b-dimethyl-l- (2 toxyloxyethyl) 2 methallyl 7 keto 1,2,3,4,4a, 4b,5,6,7,9,10,10a-dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol.

EXAMPLE 4 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2-t0syl0xyezhyl)-2-methallyl-7-ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a dodecahydrophenanzhrene-4-one (XII) 160 mg. of 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2-tosyloxyethyl)-2-metha1- lyl 7 ethylenedioxy l,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol in 1 ml. of anhydrous pyridine was added to a solution of 160 mg. chromic anhydride in 1 ml. pyridine. The mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature for 16 hours after which time it was diluted with water and extracted with ether. The ether extract was washed with water, dried, and concentrated to dryness in vacuo. A solution of the crystalline residue in a mixture of benzene and petroleum ether was chromatographed over acid washed alumina. Elution with ether yielded pure 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2-tosyloxyethyl)-2-methallyl-7-ethylenedioxy-l,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-one, (XII), M.P. 156-8 C.

Upon hydrolyzing Compound XII with an acid such as perchloric acid, the ethylenedioxy substituent is cleaved to obtain 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2-tosyloxyethyl)-2-methallyl- 7-keto-1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,9,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-one.

EXAMPLE 5 2,4b dimethyl-I-(2-to.s'yl0xyethyl) -2-acetonyl-7-ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,1041 dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-0ne (XIII) To 445 mg. 2,4b-dimethyl-1(2-tosyloxyethyl)-2-methallyl-7-ethylenedioxy-1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-one dissolved in 5 ml. benzene was added 208 mg. osmium tetroxide. The solution was allowed to stand at room temperature for one hour. Seven ml. of ethyl alcohol and a solution of 0.7 g. sodium sulfite in 4 ml. water were then added and the solution shaken for twenty minutes. The upper organic layer was then decanted and filtered, while the lower layer was washed with ethyl alcohol. The alcohol was also filtered and combined with the upper organic layer. The benzenealcohol solution containing the desired product was then concentrated in vacuo to one-tenth the original volume. The concentrate was diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extract, after being washed and dried, was concentrated to dryness in vacuo to give 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2-tosyloxyethyl)-2-(2,3-dihy droxy-2-methyl)-propyl-7-ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,

ass-1,96?

, 9 5,6,7,8,10,10a dOQecahydrOphenanthrene=4-one amorphous solid.

This material was dissolved in 4 ml. methyl alcohol and 1 ml. pyridineyandto this solution was added 250 mg. of periodic acid in 0.5 ml. water. The mixture was allowed to stand atroom temperature for 30 minutes, diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The organic extract was washed, dried, and concentrated in vacuo to an oil. Chromatography. over acid washed alumina and elution with ether, yielded-the desired product,i2,4b"- dimethyl 1 .(2 tosyloxyethyl) 2 acetonyl- 7-ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5, 6,'7,'8,10,10a dodecahye drophenanthrene-4-one (XIII), M.P. l04-8.C.'(d.).

The above osmylation reaction was also successfully carried out'in a 9:1 benzene-tetrahydrofuran solution utilizing 7.184 g. of'CompoundjXII and 4.8 g. osmium tetroxide.

When Compound XIII is subjected to acid hydrolysis,

as an and d l-ll-lreto progesterone (XV) (A 3,11,20-triketo pregnane), is obtained;

EXAMPLE 9 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(24z rylo;cyethy l) -2 acet0nyl 7 ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,1011 dodecahyd'rophenantl zrene-4-ol (IX) To 910 mg. of 2,'4b-dimethyl-1-(2-tosyloxyethyl)-2- methallyl-7 ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a-

for example, by treatment with perchloric acid, the

ethylenedioxy substituent is cleaved and 2,4b-dimethyl- 1*(2-tosyloxyethyl)-2-acetonyl-7-keto 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6, 7,9,10, 1-0a-dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-one is obtained.

EXAMPLE 6 A 3 -ethylenea' foxy-1 1 ,2 O-diketo-I 7 -is0pregnene (XI VA To a solution of 80 mg. of 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2-tosyloxyethyl)-2-acetonyl-7-ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8, 10,10a-dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-one in 1 ml. methyl alcohol was added 0.08 ml. of a 2 N solution of sodium methoxide in methyl alcohol. The solution was allowed to stand in a closed flask at room temperature for one hour after which time it was diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extract was washed, dried, and concentrated in vacuo. The crystalline residue so obtained was chromatographed on alumina. Elution with a mixture of ether-petroleum ether yielded A -3-ethylenedioxy-l 1,20-diketo-17-isopregnene (XIVA) M.P. 212-5 C., which on hydrolysis with acid yields A 3, l 1-20-triketo-17-isopregnene.

EXAMPLE 7 M-B-ethylenedioxy-I1,20-diket0-1 7-is0pregnene (Xl VA To a solution of 80 mg. of 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2-tosyloxyethyl)-2-acetonyl-7-ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5, 6,7,8, 10,1Oa-dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-one in 1.5 ml. of benzene was added 0.15 ml. of a 1 M solution of potassium tertiary butoxide in tertiary butyl alcohol. This mixture was then stirred for hours at room temperature. It was then diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extract was washed, dried, and concentrated under reduced pressure to produce a crystalline residue. The recrystalline material was dissolved in a mixture of benzene and petroleum ether, chromatographed on acid washed alumina. From the ether-petroleum ether eluate was obtained crystalline A 3-ethylenedioxy-1 1,20-diketo-17-isopregnene (XIVA) EXAMPLE 8 A -3-ethylenedioxy-11,ZO-diketo-pregnene (XI VB) A solution of 165 mg. A -3-ethylenedioxy-11,20-diketo- 17-isopregnene in 5 ml. benzene and 2 ml. methyl alcohol was treated with 3 ml. 2 N methanolic sodium methoxide. The solution was allowed to stand at room temperature for 2 hours. It was diluted then with water, and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extract was washed, dried, and concentrated in vacuo, giving a crystalline residue which yielded, after chromatography in the manner previously described, A -3-ethylenedioxy-l1,20- diketo-pregnene (XIVB), M.P. 18l.0182.5 C.

The above epimerization was also carried out using potassium carbonate in place of sodium methoxide.

When A -3-ethy1enedioxy-11,20-diketo-pregnene is subjected to acid hydrolysis by treatment with an acid such as perchloric acid, the ethylenedioxy substituent is cleaved dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol dissolved in 9 ml. of henzene and 2 ml. of tetrahydrofuran was added 545 mg. osmium tetroxide. The solution was allowed to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes after which time 12 m1. of ethanol and a solution of 1.2 g. sodium sulfite in 7 ml. of water were added. The solution was then shaken for 25 minutes and the product, 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2-tosy1oxyethyl)-2 (2,3 dihydroxy-2-methyl) propyl-7 ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol recovered in the same manner as described-in Example 5 for the corresponding 4-keto compound.

0.84 gram of 2,4b-dimethyl-l-(2-tosyloxyethyl)-2-(2,3- dihydroxy-2-methyl)-propyl-7-ethylenedioxy l,2,3,4,4a, 4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a-dodecahydrophenanthrene 4 ol, dissolved in 8 ml. methanol and 2.2 ml. pyridine, was mixed with a solution of .61 g. periodic acid in 1.5 ml. of water. The mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes, water added and the mixture extracted with chloroform. On removal of the chloroform there was obtained a residue containing 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2- tosyloxyethyl)-2-acetonyl-7-ethylenedioxy 1,2,3,4,4a,4b, 5,6,7,8,10,10a'dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol.

EXAMPLE 10 A -3-ethylenedioxy-l 1 -hydr0xy-20-keto pregnene and A 3-ethylenedi0xy-1 1 -hydroxy-20-ket0-is0pregnene A solution of 760 mg. of 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2-tosyloxyethyl -2-acetonyl-7-ethylenedioxy-1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8, l0, lOa-dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol in 5 ml. of methanol and .80 ml. of a solution of 2 N sodium methoxide in methanol was allowed to stand for 20 hours at room temperature. The resulting mixture was diluted with water extracted with chloroform and the chloroform solution dried. After removal of the chloroform by distillation under reduced pressure, there was obtained a mixture of A -3-ethylenedioxy-l1-hydroxy-20-keto pregnene (XA) and A -3-ethylenedioxy-1l-hydroxy-ZO-keto isopregnene (XB), M.P. 182-93 C.

The mixture of A -3-ethylenedioxy-11-hydroxy-20-keto pregnene (XA) and A -3-ethylenedioxy-11-hydroxy-20- keto-isopregnene (XB) of M.P. 182-193 C., was dissolved in acetone, a small amount of p-toluene sulfonic acid added and the solution heated at reflux temperature for 20 minutes. The product was recovered by adding water to the reaction mixture, extracting with chloroform, washing the chloroform extract with water, drying the extract and evaporating to dryness. The resulting solid was crystallized from ethyl acetate to give a crystalline product, M.P. -200 C. which is. a mixture of A -3,20-diketo-1l-hydroxy-pregnene (XI), (dl-l l-hydroxy progesterone), and nene.

Various changes and modifications may be made in carrying out the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Insofar as these changes and modifications are within the purview of the annexed claims, they are to be considered as part of our invention.

What is claimed is:

1. 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2-tosyloxyethyl)-2 methallyl 7- ethylenedioxy-I,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a dodecahydrophenanthrene-4-ol.

2. 2,4b-dimethyl-I-(Z-tosyloxyethyl)-2 methallyl 7- ethylenedioxy-l,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a dodecahydr0- phenanthrene-4-one.

A -3,20-diketo-1l-hydroxy-isopreg- E1 12 3. 2,4b-dimethyl-1-(2-tosy1oxyethyD-2 methallyl 7- 6. A dodecahydrophenan hr n P the keto 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,9,10,10a dodecahydrophenangroup consistlng of compounds of the formula. T thIene-4-o1. CH3 CH 4. 2,4b-dimethy1-1-(2-t0sy1oxyethy1)-2 methallyl 7- HO keto 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,9,10,10a dedecahydrophenani 5 threne/4-one. CH3

5. A dodecahydrophenanthrene compound from the OHCHQOSOR' group consisting of compounds of the formula CH3 CH; 10

0- -CH3 =CH2 C wherem R 1s a radlcal from the group conslstlng of H3 2 2 2Rl methyl, phenyl and tolyl, and the 7-1ower alkylenedioxy ketals thereof.

15 References Cited in the file of this patent Sarett et aL: JACS, v01. 74, pp. 4974-76 (1952) wherein R is a radical from the group consisting of methyl, phenyl and tolyl, and the 7-lower alkylenedioxy ketals thereof. 20 

1. 2,4B-DIMETHYL-L-(2-TOSYLOXYETHYL)-2 - METHALLYL - 7ETHYLENEDIOXY-1,2,3,4,4A,4B,5,6,7,8,10,10A - DODECAHYDROPHENANTHRENE-4-OL.
 5. A DODECAHYDROPHENANTHRENE COMPOUND FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF COMPOUNDS OF THE FORMULA 